SB Nation User Blog: akbeck98

Just got back from Florida last night. We went to Tuesday night's game vs. the Rays. We got back...

akbeck98 — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 23:33:29 -0000

Just got back from Florida last night. We went to Tuesday night's game vs. the Rays. We got back in time to attend today's game vs. the Sox and it made up for the sweep!

2008 Chicago Bears Expo - Photos

akbeck98 — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 02:41:20 -0000

Today I attended the 2008 Expo at Solider Field.

After attending the previous Chicago Bear's Fan Fest in the past at the Chicago Hilton the Bears Expo at Solider Field was a huge upgrade! The event included scratch off tickets for a number of Bear's greats to autograph one item. The lines moved very smooth and everyone seemed to get who and what they wanted. The autograph ticketed lines took you into the vistors locker rooms. Then random lines without tickets were for lesson know/rookie type players. The organizers were very good at assuring that only the correct number of people entered the line before they were cut.

Other events included a kids zone, pictures on the field, kicking a field goal, pro shop, vendors, locker room tours, break out sessions.

I am sure there was more, but I'm forgetting them now...

Here are some pictures from the day...

via i11.photobucket.com

via i11.photobucket.com

Bears Expo - June 7th - 8th

akbeck98 — Tue, 20 May 2008 02:38:02 -0000

Soldier Field - June 7th and 8th

This is my first entry here on the Windy City Gridiron forum. I am curious to know if anyone is going the the Bears Expo in a few weeks? I have gone to the fanfest at the Hilton the past few years and I am looking forward to the location change. I know that last year the autograph lines got a bit out of hand. I am hoping the revamping of it, is a good thing.

Poll

Are you going to the Bears Expo?

Yes

1 votes

No

4 votes

Maybe

5 votes

Doesn't interest me

0 votes

10 votes | Poll has closed

Meet the Team, Have a Ball - Photos

akbeck98 — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:37:23 -0000

Here are a few photographs from the event. It was great to walk on Wrigley and see the entire team.

For those of you who have never been on Wrigley Field this trip is worth the $300 that it costs. You are allowed to spend time on the field and take as many pictures as you like. I took a ton and tried different angles to get awesome photos. The last time I was actually on Wrigley Field was many years ago. My parents took my brother and I to a game and as we entered the first 500 kids got to enter the field. I remember my parents just letting us go, thinking how are we going to find them later. It was amazing. I remember kids picking grass and trying to save it! We got to listen to players talk and we actually shook hands with Andre Dawson as we passed by. Not much as changed, but I still got chills when I stepped onto the field....

I was shaking as I got my ball signed by all of them. It was a great day...here are some of my photos...

The ivy is coming in nicely! :)

Most players were in a pretty good mood.

I ran into Len on the way out...he was very nice and stopped for a picture.

Monday's Game on WCIU - will it be blocked from ESPN

akbeck98 — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:49:43 -0000

Last year everytime the game was on WICU I never got it and even when it was on ESPN also it was blocked. Does anyone know if this game will be blocked from ESPN tomorrow night? I guess if it was scheduled to be on ESPN prior to the start of the season it will be on. I think last year it was blocked after it was added to ESPN later. No one probably knows until game time, but just looking for some information ahead of time.

Book Review "The Comeback Season" by Jennifer E. Smith - March 2008

akbeck98 — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:57:29 -0000

Being a teacher I am always on the look out for great books. I was at a conference this past week and I stumbled across the book, The Comeback Season by Jennifer E. Smith. Looking a the cover I knew it was a story of baseball. When I read the inside cover,

(from the book flap)...."The last place Ryan Walsh should be this afternoon is on a train heading to Wrigley Field. She should be in class, enduring yet another miserable day of her first year of high school. But for once, Ryan isn't thinking about what she should be doing. She's not worried about her lack of friends, or her suffering math grade, or how it's been five whole years since the last time she was really and truly happy. Because she's finally returning to the place that her father loved, where the two of them spent so many afternoons cheering on their team. And on this -- the fifth anniversary of his death -- it feels like there's nowhere else in the world she should be. Ryan is once again filled with hope as she makes her way to the game. Good luck is often hard to come by at a place like Wrigley Field, but it's on this day that she meets Nick, the new kid from her school, who seems to love the Cubs nearly as much as she does. But Nick carries with him a secret that makes Ryan wonder if anyone can ever really escape their past, or believe in the promise of those reassuring words: "Wait till next year." Is it too much for Ryan to hope that this year, this season, might be her comeback season?"

I knew I had to buy the book. I sat down last night and read the entire thing. This book was great. It focused a love between and girl and her dad who has died unexpectedly. Five years later she meets a boy who she has an instant connect to. This connection forces her to acknowledge her feelings of her dad that she has suppressed. It is written with the audience of a teenage love story. I just really enjoyed how the author created a feeling in the book that I could relate too. The connection to the Cubs and Wrigley field is magical in the book.

This book might not be for most of you who frequent here, as I don't think my husband would read this book. However, if you are looking for a book that will leave you feeling proud to be a cub fan it is this one. As I mentioned it is an easy read and can quickly be read in a matter of hours. Of course I had tears, and I also laughed thinking of things I have done that match up with the main character. Her and her dad make statements like I will do the dishes for a week if the cubs can win this game. The book parallels with the 2008 Cubs season as they make a push for the playoffs via the wild card spot. The books ends without revealing how the season ends, however I enjoy that part of the book because it has yet to happen in real life.

If you have a teenage daughter who loves the Cubs or baseball this would be one that you should buy for her!

Cubs Caravan - Freeport, IL

akbeck98 — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:00:10 -0000

Tonight I was able to attend the Cubs Caravan in Freeport, IL. The following Cub's personalities were there:

Len Casper
Bob Brenly
Matt Sinatro
Lou Piniella
Kevin Hart
Jeff Samardzija
Rich Hill
Ryan Theriot

There was a lottery as you walked in for the autographs followed by a question and answer session. Of course kids asked some silly questions and some serious questions. Lou was put on the spot when asked if Soriano could move to the 5 spot and why Theriot was not lead off man. Lou said that kid from Japan instead of using Fukudome's name! One time he slipped it in, but that was it. Overall it was a fun time, but I'm looking forward to this weekend for the Convention.

I am currently trying to upload a few video clips from the evening and will post them here as soon as I can.